The Redwood City Port Commission approved a three-year lease with Boxer Industries, Inc. for a facility producing carbon black, a material used in manufacturing nearly all black rubber and plastic products.

The commission Wednesday approved the lease with the Silicon Valley-based company for the facility at the port on Hinman Road adjacent to Sims Metal Management.

The 5,000-square-foot pilot plant will be built on approximately .6 acres near the Kaiser Cement silos and include an office trailer and parking. The plan will be partially assembled prior to delivery and installation and stand about 30 feet high. The plan will produced roughly 180 metric tons of carbon black annually and operating hours will typically be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Any future explanation from pilot plan to full production will require a separate environmental review.

Carbon black is used in rubber and plastic products and as a pigmenting, UV stabilizing and conductive agents for toners, printing ink and coating.

In November, the Port Commission adopted a mitigated negative declaration and mitigation monitoring plan. The mitigated negative declaration concluded that the proposed project will have less than significant environmental impacts and that effects on air quality during the two- to four-week construction period can be mitigated. Air emissions from the proposed plant itself are far below standards set by the Bay Area Air quality Management District, the regional body monitoring air pollution.